Something to Think About

Online DISC Assessment Now Available - The Success Insights® DISC Profile Behavioral Assessment is an analysis of each individual's behavioral style to increase your self-awareness and abilities to develop adaptive styles to meet the demands of your work and customer environments. It will take you no more than 15 minutes to complete the online assessment and I promise, you will be impressed with the results. The cost to you is $80 and all you have to do is go to my website at:

http://www.attardimarketing.com/services/

You will then see: Order the online DISC assessment ONLY for $80.00.  

Once you place your order, I will then email you the link and the necessary instructions to take the online DISC assessment. Once completed, you will then receive a 25 page report automatically. Once completed, you will then receive a 25 page report automatically. Learn about your own behavioral style and how you can recognize the behavioral style of others.

News Updates for the Week of October 24

Online DISC Assessment Now Available - The Success Insights® DISC Profile Behavioral Assessment is an analysis of each individual's behavioral style to increase your self-awareness and abilities to develop adaptive styles to meet the demands of your work and customer environments. It will take you no more than 15 minutes to complete the online assessment and I promise, you will be impressed with the results.  The cost to you is $80 and all you have to do is go to my website at:

http://www.attardimarketing.com/services/

You will then see: Order the online DISC assessment ONLY for $80.00. 

Once you place your order, I will then email you the link and the necessary instructions to take the online DISC assessment. Once completed, you will then receive a 25 page report automatically. Once completed, you will then receive a 25 page report automatically. Learn about your own behavioral style and how you can recognize the behavioral style of others.

1.      Facebook, NRDC, and Opower Partner to Develop a New Social Energy Application - Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Opower announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to use the power of social networking to raise consumer awareness about energy consumption through a joint development of a new social energy application. Leveraging the Facebook platform, the app will enable consumers who choose to participate to benchmark their home's energy usage against a national average of similar homes, compare their energy use with friends, enter energy-saving competitions, and share tips on how to become more energy efficient. The partnership builds upon each organization's strengths to offer a powerful tool that provides context and connection for helping people become more energy efficient. 10/17 PRNewswire

2.      DOE Releases Summary Results from Round 13 of Caliper Testing - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed Round 13 of product testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting (SSL) CALiPER program. A Summary Report containing the results is now available for download on the DOE SSL website at www.ssl.energy.gov/reports.html  Round 13 of product testing included three primary focus areas: LED and benchmark high-bay luminaires; LED wallpack luminaires; and LED and benchmark 2'x2' troffers. Detailed test reports for Round 13 will be available soon through the searchable online CALiPER system: www.ssl.energy.gov/search.html

3.      The Tough Business of LEDs - Proving that energy-saving products don’t easily make a good business, Royal Philips Electronics today reported that third quarter profits in its LED-reliant lighting division tumbled by nearly 50 percent. They blamed the profits decline in large part on sales of the diodes. As SmartPlanet has noted, the industry has overproduced the chips and is clearing out inventory at reduced prices. The glut has been caused by a fall-off in the market for flat screen televisions and other displays that use LEDs for backlighting. Philips also blamed the income erosion on a decline in consumer lamp sales, including LED as well as conventionally lit lamps. http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/the-tough-business-of-leds/9655

4.      China LED Lighting Market to Experience Rapid Growth in Next Few Years - Studies show that total market size of the global lighting market (includes both LED and traditional lightings) in 2010 was US$79.3 billion. Demand is expected to increase due to China's economic success and policies aiming to narrow the gap between urban cities and rural areas. Market watchers estimate that by 2015 China's lighting market will reach US$20 billion, accounting for 18.3% of the global market. Developed economies such as Europe and North America currently account for more than 50% of the global lighting market with market size close to US$40 billion. However, the growth is expected to slow down as developments have come to a certain stage. China's lighting market, on the other hand, will show rapid growth. Market research institutes indicate China's LED lighting market has been stimulated by the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Local governments have also been providing policies to support and encourage the development of the industry. In a few years, it is likely for the demand for LED related products to increase as China focuses on major developments that are also eco-friendly. http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20111014PD209.html

5.      Dominion's Green Power and Lighting Programs Reduce Emissions - Dominion Virginia Power's Green Power® and discount program for the purchase of CFL bulbs together are reducing emissions by the equivalent of removing 326,700 cars from the road for a year. The CFL purchases also will save customers more than $349 million on their energy bills over the life of the bulbs. As of September 30, approximately 13,000 residential and commercial customers were enrolled in Green Power, an increase of 31 percent from July 2010. Customers voluntarily pay a little extra in their Dominion bill each month to support renewable energy. Information: www.dom.com/VAGreenPower Dominion offers instant discounts when purchasing CFL bulbs at participating stores in Virginia and North Carolina. A list of retailers is available at www.dom.com/LightingProgram

6.      TN Applications Accepted for Energy Efficiency Grants - The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development said in a news release they are taking new applications for a third round of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block grants to communities across the state. The department has previously given out $12.1 million in these grants to 135 communities.The grants can be used to fund a variety of projects on the local level, such as retrofitting lighting and heating and cooling systems to be more efficiency, as well as installing renewable energy systems. 10/17 AP

7.      TVA Offering Cash Incentives to EnergyRight Participants - TVA is increasing the incentive it will pay to businesses and industries taking part in its EnergyRight Solutions program to conserve energy. Effective immediately, TVA will increase the cash incentive payment from 5 cents to 10 cents for each kilowatt-hour saved by businesses that enroll in the program. The utility said it has made more than $4 million in reimbursements to more than 500 companies. 10/14 Knoxville News-Sentinel  http://www.energyright.com/

8.      September Housing Starts Jump 15% - Housing starts came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 658,000, up 15% from the August rate of 572,000, and up 10.2% compared with September 2010, according to data released this morning by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The figure of 658,000 was the highest total housing-starts figure since April 2010, when starts stood at 687,000. Meanwhile, building permits in September were at a rate of 594,000, 5% below the August rate of 625,000. 10/19 HCN

9.      IES Annual Conference in Austin, TX, October 30 through November 1, 2011 -  http://www.ies.org/ac/conf-reg.cfm

10.  The Retrofit Program - Although government, environmentalists and fiscal hawks rarely agree on environmental issues, a new public-private partnership to finance U.S. energy efficiency retrofits (the “Retrofit Program”) is attracting broad public support. The Retrofit Program is being funded by a private consortium known as PACE Commercial Consortium (“PCC”) without any government loans, subsidies, tax credits or other govenrmental assistance, other than legislative support from state and local government. Because the Retrofit Program combines market-based solutions with traditional property secured municipal finance, PCC believes the Retrofit Program will pave the way for other profitable, long-term clean energy solutions. 10/17 Environmental Leader

11.  McGraw-Hill Construction Sees Flat Construction Environment in 2012 - Lingering doubts in the minds of business executives and consumers about the health of the U.S. economy, uncertainty over the political turmoil in Washington, D.C., and weak demand will probably choke off any significant growth in the 2012 construction market. That’s the consensus of the construction economists at McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook 2012, held Oct. 19 in Washington, D.C. Overall, McGraw-Hill Construction expects the level of construction starts in 2012 to be $412 billion, following the 4% decline to $410 billion predicted for 2011. http://electricalmarketing.com/

12.  Massachusetts Leads Efficiency Rankings - Massachusetts edges out California for first place in the annual rankings from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). California ranks second, New York is third, and Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Rhode Island tie for fourth place. 10/20 The Los Angeles Times

News Updates for the Week of October 17

Online DISC Assessment Now Available - The Success Insights® DISC Profile Behavioral Assessment is an analysis of each individual's behavioral style to increase your self-awareness and abilities to develop adaptive styles to meet the demands of your work and customer environments. It will take you no more than 15 minutes to complete the online assessment and I promise, you will be impressed with the results. The cost to you is $80 and all you have to do is go to my website: 

 http://www.attardimarketing.com/services/

You will then see: Order the online DISC assessment ONLY for $80.00. 

Once you place your order, I will then email you the link and the necessary instructions to take the online DISC assessment. Once completed, you will then receive a 25 page report automatically. Once completed, you will then receive a 25 page report automatically. Learn about your own behavioral style and how you can recognize the behavioral style of others.

1.      Clinton-Backed Efficiency Program Tackling 30m Sq Ft of Commercial Space - A Los Angeles program backed by the Clinton Climate Initiative is giving building owners financing and free energy assessments, in an effort to raise the efficiency of 20 to 30 million square feet of commercial space. The LA Commercial Building Performance Partnership http://www.lacommercialbpp.com/  aims not only to help commercial property owners make their buildings more energy and water efficient, but also to save tenants money. The partners say they will offer financing at competitive rates to cover up to 100 percent of the cost of an owner’s energy upgrades. One option available through the partnership is property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, in which building owners can secure capital and repay the costs through their property tax bill, payable over periods of up to 20 years. Improvements to building energy and water efficiency could include on-site clean energy generation, lighting and chiller plant upgrades or the installation of new technology to control and monitor energy use. 10/13 Environmental Leader

2.      Vu1 Corporation Signs Manufacturing Agreement with Huayi Lighting Company Ltd. to Supply 250 Million Units (Bulbs) Over Five Years - New York City-based Vu1 Corporation has developed a new energy efficient light bulb made in China to provide the consumer market with the first affordable, non-toxic light bulb with features consumers are demanding and not receiving from existing products. The Vu1 Electron Stimulated Luminescence™ – ESL light bulb is energy efficient and specifically designed to replace a 65W incandescent R-30 flood bulb in recessed light fixtures. The Vu1 reflector bulb gives uniform flood illumination and a light quality that is virtually indistinguishable from the incandescent lamp it replaces. www.vu1.com

3.      Sylvania LED Bulbs to Appear at Menards - Osram Sylvania released new LED bulbs at Menards stores on Oct. 11. Part of the “Ultra LED” A line, the omnidirectional bulbs are available in two wattages. The 8W is equivalent to the 40W incandescent, and the 13.5W is equivalent to the 60W incandescent. The Ultra LED BR 30 and BR 40 are replacements for the equivalent 65W incandescent models.  10/12 HCN

4.   ‘$1bn’ University Green Endowment Plan Launched - Harvard and Stanford are among 32 universities that have committed $65 million to new energy efficiency financing initiative Billion Dollar Green Challenge. The fund aims to get colleges, universities and other nonprofits to invest a total of $1 billion in self-managed “green revolving funds.” Such funds are used to finance energy efficiency upgrades that offer a quantifiable monetary saving or return. Such funds have a median annual return on investment of 32 percent.  Full lists of participating universities, coordinating partners and financial backers can be found at the Billion Dollar Green Challenge website http://greenbillion.org/ 10/13 Environmental Leader

5.      LUMEN Coalition Showcases Energy-Efficient Light Bulb Options - LUMEN – a coalition of more than 40 manufacturers, nonprofits and consumer groups – is informing consumers about the variety and benefits of energy-efficient lighting products and will unveil a new consumer-friendly website http://lumennow.org/ LUMEN is led by the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Lighting Association (ALA) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). 10/11 Alliance to Save Energy

6.      Choosing a Bulb Website - Once you make the smart choice to pick an energy-efficient bulb, you need to decide which bulb to buy for different fixtures. Companies are making this easy, by having energy-efficient options for almost every type of scenario. http://www.ase.org/resources/choosing-bulb 

7.      LED Lighting Sees Improvements with the Addition of Hybrid Capacitors - A combination of an ultracapacitor and a lithium-ion battery, hybrid capacitors are an ideal choice to power LEDs, which have bright output with low input power. Because of the low energy and power of LEDs, hybrid capacitors are a longer term energy source than other alternative energy storage solutions on the market. They provide for more energy storage with an energy density up to 115 percent more than standard electric double-layer capacitors (ELDCs). LED devices last longer, charge faster, incur fewer maintenance costs, consume less power and are more environmentally friendly. Hybrid capacitors are responsible for these benefits, and they make LEDs an attractive solution for solid-state lighting. 10/4 Environmental Leader

8.      Costs of Rare Earth Metals for Cleantech Applications to Reach $1.2 Billion by 2017 - In testimony before Congress on September 21, Mark Smith, CEO of rare earth mining concern Molycorp, said that China, which now controls some 97% of the world’s supply of rare earth metals, will continue to limit exports of the valuable elements, restricting its supply largely to domestic customers.  According to a recent report from Pike Research, demand for rare earths in the cleantech industry will reach 12,920 tons per year by 2017, up from approximately 9,000 tons annually in 2011, which could place an increased strain on global supply for these emerging applications.  Supply uncertainties will drive the cost of rare earth metals to makers of cleantech applications to at least $1.2 billion by 2017. http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/rare-earth-metals-in-the-cleantech-industry

9.      Cree Continues to Lead LED Industry with Even Brighter Lighting-Class LEDs  - Cree, Inc. to extend the advantage of its Xlamp® LED family with the announcement of new levels of performance, now delivering up to 140 lumens per watt. The XP-G LED can help lighting manufacturers reduce system cost and complexity and can make existing designs brighter and more efficient. Cree XP-G LEDs also boast the longest projected lifetime data published. www.cree.com 10/12 BUSINESS WIRE 

10.  TerraLUX Appoints Lighting Veteran Brian Dundon to Chairman of the Board - TerraLUX, Inc. announced the expansion of its Board of Directors to include former Philips Lighting Electronics CEO Brian R. Dundon. Mr. Dundon, who will assume the Board Chairman role, also served as Chair of the Lighting CEO Board for NEMA from 2006 to 2009. TerraLUX Inc. is headquartered in Longmont, Colorado and invents, designs, patents, manufactures and distributes innovative high power LED solutions for general illumination, industrial, commercial, medical and portable applications. www.terralux.com

News Updates for the Week of October 10

Online DISC Assessment Now Available - The Success Insights® DISC Profile Behavioral Assessment is an analysis of each individual's behavioral style to increase your self-awareness and abilities to develop adaptive styles to meet the demands of your work and customer environments. It will take you no more than 15 minutes to complete the online assessment and I promise, you will be impressed with the results. The cost to you is $80 and all you have to do is go to my website at: http://www.attardimarketing.com/services/

To order the online DISC assessment ONLY for $80.00, click the Buy Now link.

Once you place your order, I will then email you the link and the necessary instructions to take the online DISC assessment. Once completed, you will then receive a 25 page report automatically. Learn about your own behavioral style and how you can recognize the behavioral style of others.

1. Strategies Unlimited Forecasts LED Revenue Growth of Nearly 10% in 2011 - Falling LED prices and a reduced demand for LED-backlit TVs will result in a slower growth rate for LED revenues this year compared with 2010, according to Strategies Unlimited. The high-brightness LED market is projected to grow by 9.8% year-on-year in 2011, reaching $12.3 billion in revenues. LED revenues grew by a remarkable 108% to $11.2 billion in 2010, propelled by applications in TV backlight units. However, expanding supply and a slowdown in overall TV demand in 2011 led to a drastic drop in LED prices, and a slower rate of growth in total revenues. LED revenue is expected to peak in 2014 at $16.2B and then fall to $15.3 B in 2015. The dip in revenues will be temporary, as lighting will take over as the engine for growth after 2015. Revenues of LEDs for lighting will see compound growth of 33% over the period. 10/7 http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/8/10/9

2. Other Reports by Strategies Unlimited Include - http://www.optoiq.com/market-research.html

• LED Outdoor Area and Street Lighting (August 2011)
• LED Driver IC: Market Review and Forecast—2011 (June 2011)
•  LED Luminaries Market Analysis and Forecast (February 2011)

3. OSRAM SYLVANIA Acquires Encelium Technologies - OSRAM has signed an agreement with Townsend Ventures, LLC to increase its stake in Encelium Technologies from 15 percent to 100 percent. This move will enhance the company's position in two key global growth markets, LED based technologies and Light Management Systems (LMS). Encelium, headquartered in Teaneck, N.J., is a leading software technology development company concentrating in advanced lighting control and energy management systems for commercial and industrial buildings. Encelium will become part of the OSRAM General Lighting - LMS organization. 10/5 PRNewswire

4. Survey: Few Aware of Energy Efficiency Incentives - A new survey indicates that few consumers are taking advantage of tax rebates and incentives for energy efficiency upgrades on appliances, light bulbs, air conditioners and other items. St. Louis-based Emerson commissioned Harris Interactive to perform the study in recognition of October as National Energy Awareness Month. More than 70 % of respondents said they did not take advantage of rebates, tax holidays or other incentives. 10/3 AP

5. A New Use for LEDs: Mind Control - “Biological specific lights,” tuned so as not to interfere with an individual’s normal production of melatonin, the hormone secreted from the pineal gland linked to sleepiness, could begin to hit the market in about two years, according to Mr. Fred Maxik, a founder of the Lighting Science Group With a biological bulb, you could read at night without experiencing the nagging irritability that can occur after using a computer or sitting close to a lamp near bedtime. Industry experts and executives suggest that efficiency will become a Trojan horse for a host of unexpected and arguably more valuable applications. LEDs, after all, are semiconductors that can be programmed to emit light at precise wavelengths, colors and tones. 10/7 NY Times

6. Energy Conservation Kits Now Available to Maryland Customers of Potomac Edison - Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy company, will begin promoting Energy Conservation Kits and educational materials to its Maryland residential customers as part of the company's programs to meet Maryland energy efficiency requirements through the state's EmPower Maryland program. Potomac Edison customers in Maryland can visit www.myconservationkit.com to request the Energy Conservation Kit, which contains six CFLs, one smart strip and other useful components.

7. New Qualified Light Fixture Products List - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would like to inform partners and stakeholders of a new, consolidated ENERGY STAR qualified light fixture list. This new list includes products qualified to the Residential Light Fixtures specification (RLF), the Solid State Lighting (SSL) Luminaires specification and the Luminaires V1.1 specification. This new list will be updated at the beginning and middle of each month and can be accessed at www.energystar.gov/lightfixtures

8. Energy-Efficient Lighting by Alliance to Save Energy - The federal government’s energy efficiency standards for light bulbs are expected to save Americans money on their electric bills and make it easier for them to choose the type of lighting they want, according to several energy and lighting organizations. Related articles by ASE:

• Energy-Efficient Lighting: Lumens vs. Watts
• Energy-Efficient Lighting: New Labels
• Shedding Light on 2012's Phase-In of Energy-Efficient Bulbs
• Coloring Your Room With Energy-Efficient Lighting
• Living Efficiently With Tom: Efficient Lighting
• CFLs: Choosing the Right Type

http://www.ase.org/efficiencynews/shedding-light-2012s-phase-energy-efficient-bulbs

9. Rising From the Ashes of 9/11 - Ten years have passed since the devastating terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and while we will never forget the events of that day, the scars are healing. Construction is underway on One World Trade Center, which towers 80 stories high, on the site known as Ground Zero. It is already the tallest building in Lower Manhattan and is rising at a rate of about one story per week. New York-area electrical contractors are part of the team of thousands rebuilding the site, which includes six new skyscrapers and a 9/11 memorial. Clearly, the electrical contractors are contributing to a new life for Ground Zero that both honors the fallen and conveys a message of American resilience. 9/’11 Electrical Contractor

10. PPL Electric Utilities—Spreading the Energy Efficiency Word Through Programs, Social Media - Based in Allentown, PA, PPL Electric Utilities Corporation is offering its customers a wide variety of energy efficiency programs . Through its E-power energy efficiency programs, PPL is providing energy saving options like home energy audits, appliance recycling, and efficient equipment rebates for more and more of its customers. In addition, PPL Electric Utilities is featuring energy-saving tips at www.pplelectric.com/e-power each day this month.